Spring suspension for vehicles.



H. L. HUBBARD. I SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATIQN FILED AIR.10, 1912.

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HENRY L. -I-IUBIBARIJ, DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SPRING SUSPENSION ron VEHICLES.

' specification ef tetter'sratent. Patented-A Application filed April10,1912.' Serial No. 689,931. i v .r

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY L. HUBBARD, acitizen of the United Stat-es, and a resident of Detroit, in the countyof Wayne and State'of Michigan, have invented an ImprovedSpringSuspension for Vehicles,

lof Which-the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in runf ning gear for riding vehicles,particularly such as employ electricity as a motive agent.

The main spring support foral 'vehicle body- :is formed l of a centralhorizontal frame and leaf spring secured to its four corners andpivotally connecting the frame with the axles.

.The improvement is embodied particularly in an auxiliary springattachment, the construction and arrangement of Whlch are such that itreinforces the main spring support in the manner hereinafter describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, i-n WhichlFigurel is aplanof the main spring support with a'portionof the auxiliary attachmentshown in horizontal section. Fig.' 2 is a combined longitudinal sectionand side- View of 'a portion of the auxiliary spring attachment proper.Fig. 3 is a cross section of such auxiliary attachment. Fig.

`4 is a longitudinal section showing the arrangement of the set-screwsfor adjusting the tension of the auxiliary springs proper. Fi-g. 5 is asidevvie'w of the main and auxiliary .spring support with a portion of'a vehicle body shown by dotted-lines in due position on the frame. Fig.6 is an enlarged ASide view of the mainspr'ing support with a .portionofthe auxiliary attachment shown in longitudinal section.

' In Figs. 1 and 6,- -J indicates a rect'angularv frame having channelside bars, 'and K indiy cates four leaf springswhic-h are bolted to thecorners of the. said frame, their outer ends being pivot-ally attachedto rockers G which are fixed on the front and rear axles L. Thesaidf'rame J constitutesthe support proper for thebody of a vehicle, asillustrated by dotted lines iin Fi'. 5, 'and the frame and leaf springstoget 'er serve also as anvelastic reach connecting the tivo l axles L.In connection with these parts, I

have devised-an improved auxiliary spring attachment Whose construct-ionand operation are as follows: In each of the channel side bars of t-heframe J I secure elongated met-al boxes that serve as housings for apair of spiral vor coil springs A and metal block B which is arrangedbetween the springs. The block is slidable in the housing and providedwith antifriction bearings in the form of balls C that run in grooves inthe housing. lEach block has 'a .pendent'screw eye D that serves as ahanger or point of attachment for a combined tension and compression rodF whose forward end is pivoted on the lower portion of the adjacent axlerocker Gr. The Shanks of the hangers D pass through slots in the housingand channel bars, as shovvn in Figs. 3

and 6. It 'Willnow be apparent that any vertical oscillation of the mainsupport com prising the frame J and vsprings K Will, through the mediumof the tension and compression rods F, effect a greater or lesscompressionof one or the other of the two alined s pringsA of each pair.In other Words, the auxiliary spring attachment comprising the coilsprings A., blocks B, and rods F serve to supplement the function ofthemain spring support J, K, and also reinforce and strengthen the mainsupport.. The tension of the coil Springs A is regulated according tothe average load Weight by means of set-screws H which, as shovvn inFigs. vl and 4, are screwed through the ends of each housing I and bearagainst the outer ends. of said springs. Each set- .screw is provided'with a jam nut for holding itxed in any'position to which it may beadjusted.

L'The improved spring suspension-'for vehicle bodies, comprising aframe, Ileaf springs secured to the several corners of the same, andaxles to Which the springs are attached, pairs of coil springs arrangedon the side bars of suc-h frame, a block in terpsed between the springs4of each pair,

and tension and compression rods connecting such blocks with the axles,as described.

2. rIlhe improved spring suspension for vehicle bodies, comprising aframe having www@ parallel channel side bars, leaf springs se- Cured tothe several corners of the frame and axles to 'which the outer ends ofsaid springs are attached, box-like housings arranged on the sadsdebars, pairs of coil springs arranged in such housings, together With aslidable block which is interposed

